Dental Tribute To Prince Philip
- Details
- Published: Saturday, 10 April 2021 20:04
- Written by Chris Tapper
- Hits: 1354
The British Dental Association has paid tribute on its website to its past President, The Duke of Edinburgh, following the news of his death.
The BDA News website said the Duke was made an honorary member in 1957. He was said to have remained a constant supporter of the Association’s work.
In 1980 he was appointed President of Honour, marking the centenary of the BDA.
The website quoted the Duke of Edinburgh’s Presidential address in 1980.
He said "If the Association feels that a hundred years is worth celebrating, I can only say that millions of dental patients will join them in their celebration, if only in thanksgiving for the vast improvement and progress in dental treatment that has taken place in that period and for the development of the concept of prevention as of equal importance to treatment."
The Association has extended its condolences to Her Majesty the Queen, the Association’s Royal Patron.
BDA President Russ Ladwa said "Today the BDA has lost an honorary member, a past President, and a firm believer in the role dentists play in improving the health of the nation.”
"Over 40 years ago the Duke set out a vision on prevention that was ahead of its time and remains our goal.”
"The Association salutes the foresight of my predecessor, and on behalf of this profession let me extend our condolences to our Patron, Her Majesty the Queen, and to the Royal Family."
The Duke of Edinburgh was well known for his jokes, which the press often renamed as ‘gaffes.’
In an affectionate tribute to the late Prince, for the Hindustan Times, Karan Thapar wrote: The best part is that the prince was well aware of what he was up to.”
“Fifty years ago, he told the General Dental Council “Dontopedalogy is the science of opening your mouth and putting your foot in it, a science which I have practised for a good many years.”
“Asked in 1967 about a possible trip to the then Soviet Union he replied: “I would like to go to Russia very much – although the bastards murdered half my family.”
“As The Times commented last week, when the prince announced his retirement: “Somehow, no matter how wide he opens his mouth or how deeply his foot becomes lodged in it, people never stay offended for long.”
On a visit to the new state-of-the-art £50 million Birmingham Dental Hospital and School of Dentistry, when he accompanied The Queen he called out to the crowds ’Are you here to have your teeth done?”
The Duke of Ediburgh wasn’t the only member of the Royal Family with dental connections.
In 1988, Diana, Princess of Wales, was awarded The Honorary Fellowship in Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England at a ceremony in Lincolns Inn Fields.
You need to be logged in to leave comments.
Report